Sublist 5, Group 1 (49)

‘Adjust’ means to adapt or to become familiar with. It was originally used in the late 1300s to mean ‘to correct or remedy.’ By 1660 it also meant ‘to conform with.’ A common meaning that we use today is ‘to get used to’ and this dates from 1924.

Examples:

She adjusted quickly to her new life as a married woman.

I get the brakes in my car adjusted every three months just to be sure that they are safe.

He adjusted his tie so that it would cover the mark on his shirt.

It is his first time living on her own, but he seems to be adjusting to life as a university student in a strange and new country.

Collocations: When you learn new vocab, make sure that you note collocations too. For this group of words some collocations are:academic achievementsadjust to, period of adjustment, adjustment of
alter by, alteration of, alteration for
amend from, amend to, amend by, amendment of, amendment to, make amends for
aware of, awareness of

Check the meanings of the words if you don’t already know them. Check the meanings of the various forms as sometimes they are different. You can check them at Time4english by clicking the words (http://www.time4english.com/aamain/lounge/awl.asp).

Vocabulary for IELTS – Academic Word List 49

Complete the sentences below with the correct word and the correct form of the word. (eg. you may need to change a word from a noun to an adjective or from a singular to a plural.)

She asked the dressmaker to make some _______________ to her wedding dress because she had lost weight. (alter, aware)

Her daughter is ______________ inclined, but her two sons are more practically oriented. (amend,academic)

Children don’t usually develop an _______________ of their shadow until they are about two or three years old. (aware, academic)

When you move to a new country, you need to make a huge social _______________. (adjust, alter)

Some _______________ were recently made to the university rules and regulations regarding student attendance . (adjust, amend)